Elliptical orbit compaction curb forming and extruding apparatus

Abstract

A manually operable and steerable curb extrusion device for extruding curb, barrier, wall, gutter or the like from concrete, cement or some other moldable building material. The curb extrusion device has a hopper into which building materials are placed to fall onto a reciprocating orbital compaction member which compacts, kneads, and forces the building material through an open ended extrusion mold where it is shaped before extrusion.

I claim: 
     
       1. A manually maneuverable curb forming extruder propelled apparatus for concrete, cementitious and other similar plastic building materials comprising: a. a chassis frame with walls defining a feed hopper structured to receive, hold, and gravity feed building materials into a compaction chamber having a front and rear with a rear opening which directs building materials through the rear opening to propel the chassis frame forward,   b. steering and castering wheels attached to the chassis frame via swinging arms which allow the wheels to be adjusted from side to side for manual steering of the apparatus,   c. a reciprocating compacting member having a compacting surface orbitally mounted to the chassis frame such that the compacting surface moves in a reciprocating elliptical orbit within the compaction chamber to withdraw, drop and receive building materials from the bottom outlet of the hopper in a loading stroke, and to force and lift the building materials rearward into and through the rear opening of the compaction chamber in a compaction stroke;   d. a removable slip form with open forward and rearward ends and an open bottom in communication with the compaction chamber rear opening to receive and sectionally form the building material into a continuous curb form, and   e. a drive motor associated with the compacting member to reciprocate and orbitally move the compacting member.   
     
     
       2. A manually maneuverable curb forming extruder propelled apparatus according to claim 1, including leveling means associated with the swinging arms to adjust the height and level of the chassis frame. 
     
     
       3. A manually maneuverable extruder propelled curb forming apparatus according to claim 1, including a guide with an opening mounted to the chassis frame beneath the compaction chamber and structured to accommodate and travel along a reinforcing rod to align the apparatus and form a finished curb about said reinforcing rod. 
     
     
       4. A manually maneuverable extruder propelled curb forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slip form is releasably attached via a spring bar retainer. 
     
     
       5. A manually maneuverable extruder propelled curb forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slip form is mounted to a wall of the hopper such that the slip form can be inserted beneath and form a curb under the bottom of an overlying fence or barrier. 
     
     
       6. A manually maneuverable curb forming extruder propelled apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hopper has separate flexibly connected upper and lower segments, and includes vibration means associated with the compacting member and the lower segment of the hopper such that the compacting member and the lower segment of the hopper vibrate in opposite directions, alternatively coming together and then separating to drop the building material onto the compacting member for continuous compaction and feed of said building material to prevent bridging in the hopper and provide a more compacted building material. 
     
     
       7. A manually maneuverable extruder propelled curb forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the drive motor includes a gear box mounted to the lower segment of the hopper defined by the chassis frame with an eccentric bearing mounting connection reciprocating the compaction member, while at the same time forcing the lower segment of the hopper in opposition to the reciprocating compaction member such that the compaction member and the lower segment of the hopper vibrate in opposite directions. 
     
     
       8. A manually maneuverable extruder propelled curb forming apparatus according to claim 7, including a rubber liner in the hopper to flexibly seal the upper and lower segments of the hopper. 
     
     
       9. A manually maneuverable extruder propelled curb forming apparatus according to claim 1, including skirts attached beneath the frame below the compacting member and positioned to capture any leaking cementitious material generated during compaction and direct the same beneath the path of the newly formed curb for incorporation. 
     
     
       10. A manually maneuverable extruder propelled curb forming apparatus according to claim 1, including speed adjustment means associated with the drive motor.